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Systems

Integrated electrical and low-voltage systems of all types—inside and outside a building—encompass the range of work that electrical contractors do. The articles in this section highlight different types of work, from security, fire and life safety, to traditional electrical power and distribution, to lighting, cabling and more.

Last month, we discussed “dark fiber” and how most outside plant installations include more fibers than are needed at the time of installation. Later, those fibers will be used for expanding service capacity or leased out to provide income.

Our Houses—or, at least, the houses of the tech-savviest among us—are getting closer to running autonomously. Now, it’s not just that you can open your garage door or turn on your living room lights from a smartphone app.

Do you have a customer that requires additional access control at specific locations within their facility but no budget for a total rip and replace? Maybe they are concerned with hacking or data compromise.

The categories or labels used to describe the plethora of power quality phenomena that can occur on electrical systems have not changed much in the past decade or two. Measurement methods and acceptable limits for most systems have changed.

More on Systems

Once a year, I focus on the latest trends and changes in power-quality monitors, standards and mitigation equipment. This article initially focused on the latter, but after researching several dozen of the newer products on the market, one thing became apparent.

Optical local area networks (OLANs) have been the subject of these columns for several months, and before that I discussed networks. This month’s column ties together some loose ends to help you understand the OLAN concept better.

Optical local area networks (OLAN) will cause you to rethink practically everything you have learned about LANs and LAN cabling. Of course, any major change in technology like this causes FUD (fear, uncertainty and doubt), just like voice-over Internet protocol (VoIP) and Wi-Fi have already.

Electrical professionals understand that the purpose of a smoke detection and alarm system is generally to provide life safety for building occupants. They also understand that the goal of the fire alarm system is to provide occupants with as much escape time as possible.

Economic improvement and rising demand for energy efficiency is boosting the market for structured cabling in building automation systems (BASs). Vendors and market analysts are preparing for large-scale growth.